Expression of dopamine-associated genes on conjunctiva stromal-derived human mesenchymal stem cells

Parkinson's disease (PD) is neurodegenerative diseases caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Stem cell therapy is one of the promising strategies in helping to cure PD. In the present study, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from eye conjunctiva stromal cells were differentiated into dopaminergic neurons. In this work, after conjunctiva biopsy, mesenchymal stem cells were obtained via adherence to the plastic culture dishes. Then, MSCs were treated with general neurogenic medium containing DMEM supplemented with RA, IBMX and dbcAMP for 6 days. RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry were used for expression of dopaminergic genes such as TH. As a result, RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of dopaminergic neuron genes such as TH, Ptx3, Nurr1. Furthermore, immunocytochemistry revealed that the differentiated CJMSCs not only express TH gene, but also express TH protein. Flow cytometry showed that TH, MAP-2 proteins increased significantly as increasing passage number. In conclusion, the reported results indicate that CJMSCs might be a suitable and available source for cell transplantation therapy for the central system diseases such as PD.